Davie's Nick Castellanos returns to South Florida with the Tigers

JUPITER – Nick Castellanos grew up in Davie and was a huge Marlins fan, so the Tiger’s top draft pick in 2010 did not mind the bus ride down from Lakeland for Tuesday’s game at Roger Dean Stadium.

“This is awesome,” Castellanos said about being in his first big league training camp and facing the team he grew up cheering for. “It is an eye-opener as to what the level of competition is in the big leagues.”

Making it better was that Castellanos, a third baseman, had a lot of friends and family who made the drive up from Davie in the stands.

Castellanos, who turned 20 Sunday, played at Archbishop McCarthy and was one of the top prospects coming out of high school.

The Tigers used their first pick, the 44th of the draft, to take Castellanos, who was thought to be headed to college to play at Miami.

But a $3.45 signing bonus altered that scenario, and after a year in the Gulf Coast league, Castellanos spent last season playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps, where he hit .312 with 76 RBI and seven home runs.

“It has been a blast,” Castellanos said. “Just to be up with these guys and learn from them and watch them play and how they go about their business.”

The Tigers have Miguel Cabrera at third base, so Castellanos knows he will be headed back to the minors at the end of the month.

“My goal is to take it all in, and to have fun and enjoy it while it lasts,” Casteallanos said “It is an honor and privelege to be here.”

Castellanos still lives at home with his parents in Davie during the offseason. “I’ll milk that for a while,” Castellanos said.

Sanabia back: Alex Sanabia got the start in Tuesday’s afternoon game, and is hoping he can show enough this spring to earn a spot on the roster.

“That is my goal, to make the team out of spring training,” said Sanabia, who gave up two earned runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings while throwing 40 pitches, 29 for strikes.

An elbow strain kept Sanabia off the field for much of 2011, as he made two starts for Marlins and 12 in the minors and pitched a total of 52 2/3 innings.

“It doesn’t matter if I start or am in the bullpen, I’m just trying to make the team,” Sanabia said.

Sanabia got a head start on this season by pitching in the Arizona Fall League, where he was 2-1 with a 5.65 ERA in seven starts for the Surprise Saguaros.

Sanchez throws: Anibal Sanchez threw before Tuesday’s game for the first time since experiencing tightness in his shoulder Friday. Sanchez said he did not feel any pain and is day-to-day. “When I am ready, then I will pitch,” said Sanchez.

Game one notes: The Marlins lost 3-1 to Detroit in the first game of Tuesday’s split squad.There was a scary moment when a hard-hit ball took a bad hop caught Marlins third baseman Matt Dominguez in the face in the top of the second inning. Dominguez had to leave the game with a right eye contusion.